Permis de Sejour and other stories.

We have been working our Permis de Sejour, this is a work-type visa that allows us to stay in Haiti for more than 90 days. Some of you may not have read our Facebook postings on our Permis de Sejour 'Haitian Adventure' so we thought we would share. It still isn't over...

4/22/14

"It has taken 4 months, about 8 trips, more misc money and gas than I care to account for, but tomorrow we are going to go and apply again for our Permis. 

Please pray with us that we have everything and that God paves the way for us. (You think the government offices in America are tough)

An Update: the Immigration office has an unofficial week off this week. We will try again next week."

5/6/14

"Attempt #642 to go to Immigration and get our Permis so that we can stay in Haiti long term. Still not complete but we have a slim chance of finishing it today...prayers appreciated. Only God can make the government move."

5/9/14

"For those of you following our journey to get our Permis, attempt #645 will begin this morning. Prayers welcome.

Update: our paperwork has been staples together, our photo has been taken, fingerprints taken. Now we are waiting to pay for them...the employees didn't show up for work. 

Update: Forgot to tell you all: we met a man in the waiting room. He does this for a living. He has been helping us which is why we have gotten so far. I have no idea how much he charges, I don't think I care. 

Update: almost finished. He took our very important receipts (please God make him trustworthy) and said we would have our Permis next week. I think I may blog about this...it was so Haiti I was smiling much of the time (yesterday I cried so maybe I'm emotional). 

5/13/14

"Adventure #720. We were supposed to go into PAP yesterday to get our lisence, n# (thing SSN), & insurance for our car. However, on Sunday our timing belt broke. Shane spent all day Monday driving to get the part and fixing our vehicle. So today we are trying again. Only this time our vehicle overheated. We are now sitting on the side of the road waiting for it to cool so we can put more antifreeze in it. To be continued..."

Update: I think its all a great adventure. We don't get angry, just wonder what is next :)

5/13/14

"Adventure #722 we arrived at the place to get our drivers license. They won't let Shane in because he has shorts on (they suggested he borrow my pants...hmmm). I have now applied for my license but Shane is off trying to purchase a pair of pants on the street. To be continued...:)

Update: A miracle happened and he was able to buy a pair of pants (that fit great!) for 500 goudes (the equivalent of $11). Picture taken and now on to get insurance for our car. 

5/15/14

"Adventure #792 We went to get our insurance today and got a flat tire (so flat we heard the air coming out). Luckily we were in a great and safe spot to change it. Sadly our spare has a slash in it, our other one has already been repaired three times and leaks constantly. So we are buying 4 tires today. Not in our plans but we can still glorify God with our joy. :)

Today is 6/1 and we have learned a little more about the man 'helping' us. It sounds like sometimes he helps and sometimes he does not. So, if you are one of our prayer warriors, please pray with us that our paper work goes through and that we receive all of the paperwork we have paid for. 

God has been teaching Shane and I so much. Lately it has been about how to truly pursue God. David describes,

As the deer longs for streams of water,so I long for You, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him?

Psalms 42:1-2 (NLT)

Why is it that I allow the distractions of life to keep me from wanting to know and be near God with this kind of desperation. It is so easy to love God in the morning during my devotion time and then a little in the afternoon and some prayer in the evening, yet not really give my ENTIRE day to God. When I take a situation and talk about it, think constantly about it, plan for it, and worry about it I am letting the distraction of life take my focus off of God. This is not what God asks of me. 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me–everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

I want to be like Paul who stated 

...I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4:11c-13 (NLT)

He understood and had learned that the distractions don't matter, only knowing God more matters. And when I put my thoughts on God, surrendering my all, there is always peace. 

Prayer requests:

-There is a mosquito born virus called chikengunya and Shane had it 6 days ago and this morning I woke with it. It comes with fevers, major body aches, and a rash on your body. The fever lasts about 3 days but the body aches can last up to a year. Please pray for Shane but also for the many people that have this in Haiti yet don't have access to medication, clean water, or somewhere cool and comfortable to wait out the sickness. 

-Please pray that we will be given more knowledge of the Haitian culture so that we can work well with them. 

-Please pray that we continue to know how to keep our eyes on God

-Please pray for our children as they continue to transition into this life as a missionary. When we first started I thought we were the missionaries and they could just be kids. That is an unrealistic expectation. They are sacrificing and learning to love just as much as we are...so prayers for them. 

-Prayers that we will figure out how to do schooling, family, and work with balance (this one is cross-cultural:)). 

Thank you all for covering us daily in prayers. We can feel those prayers.

I have borrowed this beautiful picture with saying from my friend. There are many boats like this in Haiti. 

Our family was invited to participate in an Easter egg hunt at another organization. My kids had so much fun!

We went to the beach with some of the Grace Village orphanage children. This little man was hanging out with me.

Landen...

I love this pic. I can't remember if I have posted this one before. 

We are going to try and sell these baskets to support our living expenses in Haiti. If you are interested, please send me an email at imslandj@yahoo.com. We are selling the stacks of three for $35, however prices are negotiable. :)